Whoever came up with the name Burnaby Girls Sparks, sure got it right.
The under-11 girls' soccer team became just the second team from B.C. to be be selected as a weekly winner of the BMO Team of the Week contest on June 6.
The Sparks were eighth out of 15 teams of sevento-12 year olds to be soon eligible for the BMO Team of the Week national champion. The eventual winner will be selected by the Canadian public in an online poll beginning on Aug. 13.
The grand prize winner would earn its minor soccer association a $125,000 refurbishment of their community soccer field courtesy of BMO Finanicial Group.
The lucky team winner could also receive a road trip to a Vancouver Whitecaps FC or Canadian national team home game, plus a $5,000 donation to the team's charity of choice.
The Sparks girls have already been busy helping out in their community as well, raising $1,000 for the Salvation Army's Adopt-A-Family program.
"Instead of waiting for presents to come to them, the Sparks spent their last Christmas season raising money for the Salvation Army Adopt-A-Family pro-gram," said BMO Financial Group Vancouver district vice-president Henry Donkers in a press release. "Dedicated, passionate and united are three words I can use to describe this team."
As a weekly winner, the Sparks will receive a cheque for $500, track suits by Adidas and another $500 for the charity of their choice at a celebration event to be held soon.
"The Burnaby Girls Sparks are honoured to be selected as the eight BMO team of the week," said Sparks coach Dave Oliver. "The energy and joy that these players share is what makes being involed with community soccer so great. The girls are excited and proud to represent their team, their club and the region as they compete for BMO team of the week champion this August."
Last week's team selection by a BMO panel of judges has been a great bonding experience for the girls, Oliver said, adding that feeling will likely only intensify as the all-important August date draws closer.
"We could use a boost in our drive to raise enough votes. We're definitely in it to win it, but will need the full support of the city and soccer community behind us," said Oliver, who noted more than 70,000 votes were garnered by last year's winning team of the week.
